Electric switch.



s. w. HART. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l2. 9W4

Patented Oct. I6. 19H.

3 SHEETS-EMU 001,304 7 Canracr G. W. HART.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION man lULY 12. ms.

Patented Och-16, 1917.

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G. W. HART.

ELECIHIC SWiTCi-i.

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Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

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GERALD W. HART, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented Oct. 16. 1917;

Application filed July '12, 1916. Serial R0. 108,775.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERALD W. HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Hartford, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to electric switches and has for its object toproduee an electric switch which is subject to manual and electric control in such a manner that it is opened manually and closed electrically. It also has for its object to provide means whereby when the closing circuit is held closed no harm comes from manipulating the opening means. It further has for its object to provide means whereby the closing coil is automatically cut out of circuit when the main switch is open. It further has for its object to provide a switch which can be operated from the inside of the room in the same manner as any ordinary twopush-button switch and can in addition be actuated by a door bolt so as to open the circuit whenever the door is closed and locked from the outside.

The following is a description of a switch embodying my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the switch;

Fig. 9. shows a vertical section of the same on the line 3+2, Fig. 1, with the main switch arm in open position;

Fig. 3 shows a similar view with the main switch arm in closed position at the instant after the detent has been withdrawn and the switch arm has moved but before the pushbutton has been released;

Fig. 4 shows a vertical section on the line 1-4 Fig. 2 with certain parts removed.

Fig. 5 shows in perspective detail the support for the detent.

Fig. 6 shows in perspective detail the detent for locking the main switch arm open.

Fig. 7 shows in perspective a push-button for the manual operation of the switch.

Fig. 8 shows in perspective a push-button for the electric operation of the switch.

Fig. 9 shows in perspective detail the auxihary switch arm of the automatic circuit breaker.

Fig. 10 shows a diagram of the circuits.

thereto.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, 1 1s a base of insulated material, on which is mounted the frame 2 carrying a solenoid 3. Within this solenoid is a core 4 cut away at 5 so as to form two arms which when the switch is installed project upwardly. The core is provided with .two recesses or bores containing springs 6 which tended. A rod 9 carrying the main switch arm 10 is secured to the armature as shown so as to move therewith. The main switch arm is adapted to engage and disengage the main switch terminals 11 secured to the base 1. These terminals when the switch is installed point downward (see dotted lines,

Figs. 2 and 3). The switch arm 10 is preferably made of two pieces of spring copper which spread apart so as to embrace the terminals 11 when in engagement therewith. The free ends of the arms formed by the slot 5 in the armature are provided with abutment surfaces 12, as shown in Fig. 3, which surfaces are adapted to be enga ed by a detent 13, as shown in Fig. 2, so t at the armature with the switch arm is held in open position ready to be closed by the action of the spring 6. The detent 13 is pivotally mounted on a frame or support 14 at the point 15. A spring 16, one end of which engages a pin 17 upon the frame 13, and the other end of which engages a projection 18 upon an auxiliary switch arm 19, which switch arm is pivoted to the detent at 20, tends to move the detent 13 into a position to engage the abutment 12 and does so move it whenever the armature is sufliciently retracted by thesolenoid. The auxilary switch arm 19 is provided with two laterally extending projections which are electrically connected so as to form a bridging member 21, insulated from the body of the arm, which are adapted to engage and electrically connect contacts 22 on auxiliary switch terminals carried by the base for the purpose hereinafter stated.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 the main switch is open andthe auxiliary switch is also open. For manipulatin the switch so as to close the main switc I provide a pushbutton 23 movably mounted in the base upon a pin 24 carried by the part 2. This ush-button 23 is connected to a rod 25, whloh passes through the hole 26 in the frame .14. The spring 27 bears against the abutment at the base of the pin 25 and against the frame 14, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and normally tends to restore the push-button 23 and the rod 25 to the positions shown in Fig. 2. The forward end of the rod 25 rotrudes into the slot 5 in the armature an when the pushbutton 23 is actuated, it engages the detent 13 so as to force it to the position shown in Fig. 3, releasing it from the abutment 12. As soon as the detent 13 is released from the abutment 12, the armature 4 is moved by the springs 6 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, causing the main switch arms 10 to engage the contact 11 and close the main switch. The movement of the detent just described results in moving the bridging member 21 toward the contact 22. A guard 28, however, carried by the ush-button 23 engages the arm 19 before t is bridging member 21 has reached the contacts 22 and thus holds the bridging member 21 out of engagement with the contacts 22 so long as the push-button is in the position shown in Fig. 3, thus preventing the closin of the circuit of the auxiliary'switch. When, however, the pushbutton 23 is retracted into normal position, the spring 16 causes the switch-arm 19 to revolve somewhat around the pivot 20, so that the bridging member 21 engages the contacts 22-22 and electrically connect them to one another. The tail 29 on the auxiliary switch arm 19 limits the movement of the said switch arm relative to the detent 13 so that when the detent 13 moves to the position in Fig. 2, the arm 19 will be elevated to the position shown in Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that the arm 19 has a slight motion independent of the detent 13, which independent motion enables the guard 28 to accomplish the result just referred to.

lrVhen the switch is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 3, energizing the solenoid will restore the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2. In order to provide for this, I provide a second push-button 30, which is normally held in projected position by a spring 31. This push-button carries a contact making member 32 adapted to close two contacts 33 mounted upon the base and properly connected therein. As will be hereafter seen in connection with the diagram these two contacts 33 are engaged with the contact 32. When the push-button 23 has returned to normal position, the contacts 22 as above stated will be electrically connected by the bridging member 21, so that upon causing the contact making member 32 to engage the contacts 33 the circuit through the solenoid 4 beingotherwise complete the solenoid will be energi'zd'so as to act upon the armature and draw it to the left so as to cause the main switch arm to disengage the terminals 11. As soon as the armature has been moved to this position by the action of thesolenoid the detent 13 engages the abutment 12 and simultaneously the solenoid circuit is opened at the contacts 22 by the movement of the bridging member 21 so that as soon as the armature has made its full movement the auxiliary switch arm moves to open position and the circuit through the contacts 33 and the solenoid is automatically opened and remains so until the push-button 23 is again actuated.

-34, 35, 36 and 37 are binding posts for connecting external conductors to the mecha nism u on the base. 38 is a plate for boldin an guiding the push-buttons.

The operation of the device briefly stated is as follows: With the parts in open position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, pressure upon the push-button 23 releases the detent 13 so that switch arm 10 is thrown into closed position by means of the spring 6. After the push-button 23 has returned into normal position, pressure upon the push-button 32 closes the contacts 33, and, the con tacts 22, being new electrically connected, the circuit through the solenoid is completed and the switch arm is actuated by the solenoid so as to move it to open position, as shown in Fig. 3, the circuit through the solenoid being automatically broken at the contacts 22 as soon as the detent 13 is moved into holding position. When the parts areas shown in Fig. 2 all circuits are dead and the auxiliary switch arm is in open position. Pressure upon the button 23 will close the switch, but pressure upon the button 30 will have no effect. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, reciprocation of the button 23 will have no effect except to break the connections at the contacts 22. This is necessary so that if for any reason both buttons 23 and 30 are simultaneously pushed, no action will take place, the reason being that if both buttons are simultaneously pushed, the circuit through the solenoid is broken at the contact 22 by reason of the guard 28 engagin the arm 19 and moving the bridging mem er 21 out of engagement with the contact 22.

In order to operate the switch so as to open it from a plurality of points, I provide an additional circuit closer 39 in multiple with the contacts 33. This circuit closer is held in normal open position by a spring 40 and may be located in the jamb of a door so as to be engaged by the door bolt when the door is locked from the outside in a manner well known, with the result that when an occupant of a room locks his door upon leaving, the solenoid is energized so as to open the main switch and put out the lights. When the room is entered, the contact in the jamb of the door is re leased so as to disengage the door contacts, whereupon pressure upon the button 23 again closes the main circuit and relights any lights which may have been turned on before the room was left and door locked.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, my invention permits of various modificatio-ns without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a switch, the combination of a base, a solenoid mounted thereon, a solenoid core within said solenoid, a main switch arm carried by said core, main switch terminals carried by said base, a spring tending to move said core and said switch arm to circuit-closing position, a. detent movable relatively to said base and adapted to hold said solenoid core in switch-opening position when moved to that position by the action of said solenoid, manual means for releasing said detent, and circuit-closing means for manually closing the circuit through said solenoid, auxiliary contacts carried by said base, an auxiliary switch arm coacting therewith and controlled by said detent,said auxiliary switch arm being movable relatively to said detent, said auxiliary contacts being in series with said circuit-closing means.

2. Ina switch, the combination of a base, a solenoid mounted thereon, a solenoid core within said solenoid, a main switch arm carried by said core, main switch terminals car ried by said base, a spring tending to move said core and said switch arm to circuitclosing position, a detent movable relatively to said base and adapted to hold said solenoid core in switch-opening position when moved to that position by the action of said solenoid, manual means for releasing said detent, circuit-closingt means for manually closing the circuit t rough said solenoid, auxiliary contacts carried by said base, an auxiliary switch arm coacting therewith and controlled by said detent, said auxiliary switch arm being movable relatively to said detent, said auxiliary contacts being in series with said circuit-closing means, and means actuated by said manual means for holding said auxiliary switch arm from said auxiliary contacts when said manual means is in detent-releasing position.

3. In a switch, the combination of a base, a solenoid carried thereby, contacts in series with said solenoid and carried by said base, a solenoid core adapted to be moved by said solenoid in one direction, a sprin tending to move said solenoid core in the ot er direction, a detent for holding said solenoid core when moved by said solenoid, two push buttons carried by said base, means actuated by one of said push buttons to connect said contacts, means carried by the other of said push buttons for releasing said detent, and means for restoring both of said push buttons to normal position, an auxiliary switch arm connected to said detent, auxiliary contacts carried by said base and cooperating with said auxiliary switch arm so as to be closed when said detent is released, and means tending to move said detent to coreengaging position and said auxiliary switch arm toward said auxiliary contacts.

4. In a switch, the combination of a base, a solenoid carried thereby, contacts in series with said solenoid and carried by said base, a solenoid core adapted to be moved by said solenoid in one direction, a spring tending to move said solenoid core in the other direction, a detent for holding said solenoid core when moved by said solenoid, two push buttons carried by said base, means actuated by one of said push buttons to connect said contacts, means carried by the other of said push buttons for releasing said detent, means for restoring both of said push buttons to normal position, an auxiliary switch arm connected to said detent, auxiliary contacts carried by said base and cooperating with said auxiliary switch arm, means tending to move said detent to core-engaging position and said auxiliary switch arm toward said auxiliary contacts, and means carried by said last mentioned push button for preventing said auxiliary switch arm from engaging said auxiliary contacts when said last mentioned push button is in actuated position.

5. In a switch, the combination of a base, a solenoid carried thereby, contacts in series with said solenoid and carried by said base, a solenoid core adapted to be moved by said solenoid in one direction, a spring tending to move said solenoid core in the other direction, a detent for holding said solenoid core when moved by said solenoid, two push buttons carried by said base, means actuated by one of said push buttons to connect said contacts, means carried by the other of said push buttons for releasing said detent, and means for restoring said push buttons to normal position, said solenoid core having a longitudinally extending opening and said releasing means extending into said opening when in detent releasing position.

GERALD W. HART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

